Tolu Smith

Galen Edward Mitchell "Tolu" Smith III (born July 26, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and Mississippi State Bulldogs.

High school career Smith was raised in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and played basketball at Bay High School. He moved with his family to Hawaii in 2017 and enrolled at Kahuku High & Intermediate School in Kahuku for his senior season.

College career Smith played his freshman season for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and averaged 3.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

Smith appeared in 30 games during his sophomore season but only started 20 during his junior season as he battled multiple injuries. He declared for the 2023 NBA draft but returned to Mississippi State for his fifth year of collegiate eligibility.

Professional career After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft, Smith joined the Detroit Pistons for the 2024 NBA Summer League and on September 17, 2024, he signed with the team. However, he was waived on October 17 and on October 29, he joined the Motor City Cruise. On January 6, 2025, he signed a two-way contract with the Pistons. On April 13, Smith made his NBA debut against the Milwaukee Bucks in the final game of the regular season and scored 14 points with 8 rebounds. He became the second Hawaii high school graduate to appear in an NBA game after Red Rocha who last played in 1957.

Career statistics

NBA Regular season

Playoffs

Personal life Smith was born to an African-American father and Samoan mother. and previously played college basketball in the United States Virgin Islands. Smith's mother, Shannel, played basketball for the South Alabama Jaguars.

Smith's nickname, "Tolu", means "three" in Samoan as he was the third Galen in his family. He received his initials, G.E.M.S., because his parents considered him and his brother to be their "gems".